The Rumor Mill: August 15th 2005

And More Madison Square Garden chairman James Dolan is willing to wager $40 million that Allan Houston will be a healthy and productive player this season. The Knicks are expected to use today’s “amnesty provision” not to get rid of their 34-year-old shooting guard, but to release Jerome Williams instead. Malik Rose and Malik Taylor also were candidates to be released.

— New York Daily News

Until the Knicks officially make a decision, Allan Houston will not address the future. Except for one thing. “What I will say is the retirement thing is something I’ve been laughing at, you should be laughing at, everybody should be laughing at,” Houston said.

— New York Journal News

After weeks of anxiety, rumors and talk, the Mavericks will finally make the call on longtime star Michael Finley. They must decide by midnight today about using the NBA’s new luxury-tax amnesty provision and waiving Finley. Or they could trade him for useable assets.

— Dallas Morning News

The Knicks are pursuing amnesty casualties, Brian Grant and Aaron McKie, who played for Larry Brown in Philly. The Knicks would also have interest in Dallas’ Michael Finley, if he’s waived as expected today.

It’s still not a given that Drew Gooden will be with the Cavs come training camp. Like most GMs, Danny Ferry is looking at trade possibilities. Gooden has one year left on a $4 million deal, and that would make him attractive to some teams wanting salary-cap room.

Reggie Miller’s retirement will become official and final today if the Indiana Pacers follow their anticipated course of action and waive him.

— Indianapolis Star

As expected, the Bulls have decided to match the three-year, $9.07 million offer sheet guard Chris Duhon signed with the Toronto Raptors, but plan on waiting until the deadline late this afternoon before officially doing so, a team source said.

— Chicago Sun-Times

Heat center Shaquille O’Neal said it was his idea to take a substantial pay cut and believes team president Pat Riley has upgraded the roster with the recent blockbuster trade. ‘This year, there ain’t no stopping us.’ O’Neal said

— Miami Herald

While tensions between Steve Belkin and his Atlanta Spirit partners go back much further, their meltdown over the pending Joe Johnson trade began on the afternoon of July 30. A volley of e-mails led to an early-evening conference call that culminated with Hawks general manager Billy Knight asking that his “intention not to speak to Steve under any cir*****stances going forward” be duly noted.